HOOVER, Ala. - Missouri has twice won the SEC East in the three seasons since leaving the Big 12. Yet, the Tigers again aren't expected to be the media's favorite to win the division when the preseason projections are announced Thursday.

"I'm not worried about what anybody else has to say," said junior quarterback Maty Mauk. "I'm with Missouri wherever they are and my job is to win football games, whether it's sloppy or not. We are back-to-back SEC [East] champs, and we are coming for the third. … We are going to be ready."

Mauk said an offseason focus for him has being stepping up, staying in the pocket and making throws. Part of working on that included scrimmaging 11-on-11 this offseason instead of the typical 7-on-7.

"We're two competitors," said Williams, a senior from Allen. "When I break a long run, he wants to. He breaks one, I want to. In practice, we're really competitive. That competitive nature just makes us better."